so sorry, i thought i posted this nearly a week ago. welp, here it is, i guess
Dear Ash-
Bienvenue le jour! That is a saying Knox (my stepbrother) taught me. It means "welcome life". It can mean the same as "carpe diem," which he also taught me. Be-AYN-ve-noo LE JOOR. That is the pronunciation.
I have just realized, mon ami, that I have not asked your pronouns. I am sorry. I have been thinking of you as a he, but forgive me if you prefer another pronoun. I go by it/they.
I do have many questions about the SBS Raven. How large is it? I have heard of canoes, but from your tales, the Raven must be much grander than a canoe. Are there different types of sea vessels? Are they common? What is a quartermaster? I know what a quarter is, but why must one master it? He could be a math teacher if he likes fractions that much! Ack, pardon me- They, they. THEY could be a math teacher if they like quarters and fractions that much. Or is it the money quarter? Are they rich, then? Your life sounds at once amazing and confusing. What is the word for that? Crateric? Chaotic? I think that is the word, oui.
The saying Gh'real nie despoto is pronounced GUH-reel NEE DAY-spoe-toe. I find your saying wonderful. It is not wishing one idea upon the receiver- it could be wishing eternity, or luck, or happiness. A beautiful kind of abstract.
You must be at least two centuries to go to the Above. This is to ensure that we are A) settled on what age we will appear, B) have had time to learn Mortal and C) will actually appreciate the trip. Pah! It was wasted on all but the Eldest and my uncle, Ashvin. He brought me a potato. It was delicious! We had it baked, and then we cut it open and it spit steam at us! It has weapons even in death! It is truly fascinating. We lathered a creamy substance on it to smother the steam and sprinkled what is known as chees (cheez? chees? cheeze?) on top and- oh! It was heavenly. I do hope you can find one.
I have shown these letters to aunt Echo. She said to ask if you are okay having these letters put in a museum when our correspondence is over. Apparently, this is like a first or something.
What is a day in your life like? I sit quite different, living on water? Have you ever known life on land? What happens if you fall overboard? Is it mandatory to know how to swim? If you're training to be a navigator, how do you train?
Thank you for the picture. The sky- what are the lights in it? Are they buildings or ships that are above the Above? And how are there so many?
I have enclosed a drawing of the Gates Below. Those are teh gates that lead to my world. The one below yours. It is strange to think that the people and things above are not nearly so strange. Is it like that for you, too?
G'hreal nie despoto,
Corrin D'Hiver